Name: exploring the two herb combination strategy to treat injured pc12 cells
Uploaded: 2022-11-18T14:40:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Exploring the Two Herb Combination Strategy to Treat Injured PC12 Cells at JoVE.com

This research was funded by Key R &#38; D projects of the Sichuan Provincial Department of science and technology (2020YFS0325).

1. Preparation of reagent
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the complete medium by adding 90 mL of DMEM high sugar medium, 10 mL of fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 1 mL of penicillin-streptomycin solution in a 125 mL sterile culture flask. Mix the complete medium, and store at 4 &#176;C under closed conditions.</li>
	<li>Prepare CoCl2 solution by adding 0.02 g of CoCl2 powder (accurately weighed) in 10 mL of DMEM sugar-free medium (dissolved completely) to obtain a 8.4 mM stock solution. Filter the...

<ol>
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Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Dengzhan Asarum Granules. Volume I Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://db.ouryao.com/yd2020/view.php?id=f27dcefa69">https://db.ouryao.com/yd2020/view.php?id=f27dcefa69</a> (2020)</li><li>. Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Astragalus granules. Volume I Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://db.ouryao.com/yd2020/view.php?id=fbcd0a8bf8">https://db.ouryao.com/yd2020/view.php?id=fbcd0a8bf8</a> (2020)</li><li>Liu, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=N-linoleyltyrosine+protects+PC12+cells+against+oxidative+damage+via+autophagy:+Possible+involvement+of+CB1+receptor+regulation.">N-linoleyltyrosine protects PC12 cells against oxidative damage via autophagy: Possible involvement of CB1 receptor regulation.</a> International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 46 (5), 1827-1837 (2020).</li><li>Fan, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gab1+regulates+SDF-1-induced+progression+via+inhibition+of+apoptosis+pathway+induced+by+PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2/BAX+pathway+in+human+chondrosarcoma.">Gab1 regulates SDF-1-induced progression via inhibition of apoptosis pathway induced by PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2/BAX pathway in human chondrosarcoma.</a> Tumor Biology. 37 (1), 1141-1149 (2016).</li><li>Meng, M., Zhang, L., Ai, D., Wu, H., Peng, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=&#946;-Asarone+ameliorates+&#946;-Amyloid-induced+neurotoxicity+in+PC12+cells+by+activating+P13K/Akt/Nrf2+signaling+pathway.">&#946;-Asarone ameliorates &#946;-Amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells by activating P13K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway.</a> Frontiers in Pharmacology. 12, 659955 (2021).</li><li>Li, J., Chen, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+the+treatment+of+chronic+cerebral+ischemia+with+traditional+Chinese+and+western+medicine.">Advances in the treatment of chronic cerebral ischemia with traditional Chinese and western medicine.</a> Xinjiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 39 (3), 115-118 (2021).</li><li>Yu, M., Zhan, Q., Xu, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Discussion+on+the+therapeutic+value+of+traditional+Chinese+medicine+on+cognitive+dysfunction+caused+by+chronic+cerebral+ischemia.">Discussion on the therapeutic value of traditional Chinese medicine on cognitive dysfunction caused by chronic cerebral ischemia.</a> Chinese Medicine Modern Distance Education of China. 11 (19), 155-157 (2013).</li><li>Wang, M., Liu, J., Yao, M., Ren, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+research+on+pharmacological+and+neuroprotective+effects+of+traditional+Chinese+medicine+after+cerebral+ischemia.">Advances in research on pharmacological and neuroprotective effects of traditional Chinese medicine after cerebral ischemia.</a> China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica. 45 (3), 513-517 (2020).</li><li>Wang, N., Sun, H., Ma, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+different+doses+of+astragalus+injection+on+neurological+rehabilitation+of+stroke+patients.">Effects of different doses of astragalus injection on neurological rehabilitation of stroke patients.</a> Chinese Journal of Clinical Rational Drug Use. 9 (13), 67-69 (2016).</li><li>Sun, Y. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+astragalus+injection+on+apoptosis+after+cerebral+ischemia-reperfusion+in+rats.">Effects of astragalus injection on apoptosis after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.</a> Hebei Medicine. 22 (7), 1147-1149 (2016).</li><li>Yang, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dengzhan+Xixin+injection+derived+from+a+traditional+Chinese+herb+Erigeron+breviscapusameliorates+cerebral+ischemia/reperfusion+injury+in+rats+via+modulation+of+mitophagy+and+mitochondrial+apoptosis.">Dengzhan Xixin injection derived from a traditional Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapusameliorates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats via modulation of mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis.</a> Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 288, 114988 (2022).</li><li>Liao, Y., Ni, X., Zhan, C., Cai, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clinical+research+progress+of+Dengzhanhua+preparation+in+prevention+and+treatment+of+ischemic+stroke+and+transient+ischemic+attack.">Clinical research progress of Dengzhanhua preparation in prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack.</a> Guangdong Medical Journal. 41 (9), 963-967 (2020).</li><li>Li, C., Li, J., Xu, G., Sun, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+chronic+ethanol+consumption+on+apoptosis+and+autophagy+following+transient+focal+cerebral+ischemia+in+male+mice.">Influence of chronic ethanol consumption on apoptosis and autophagy following transient focal cerebral ischemia in male mice.</a> Scientific Reports. 10 (1), 6164 (2020).</li><li>El Khashab, I. H., Abdelsalam, R. M., Elbrairy, A. I., Attia, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chrysin+attenuates+global+cerebral+ischemic+reperfusion+injury+via+suppression+of+oxidative+stress,+inflammation+and+apoptosis.">Chrysin attenuates global cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.</a> Biomedicine Pharmacotherapy. 112, 108619 (2019).</li><li>Su, X., He, S., Chen, Z., Xie, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+breviscapine+aglycone+on+PI+3+K/Akt+conduction+pathway+in+neonatal+rats+with+hypoxic-ischemic+brain+injury.">Effect of breviscapine aglycone on PI 3 K/Akt conduction pathway in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.</a> Journal of Armed Police Logistics College (Medical Edition). 27 (2), 93-96 (2018).</li><li>Wang, X., Shi, C., Pan, H., Meng, X., Ji, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=MicroRNA-22+exerts+its+neuroprotective+and+angiogenic+functions+via+regulating+PI3K/Akt+signaling+pathway+in+cerebral+ischemia-reperfusion+rats).">MicroRNA-22 exerts its neuroprotective and angiogenic functions via regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats).</a> Journal of Neural Transmission. 127 (1), 35-44 (2020).</li><li>Luca, M., Luca, A., Calandra, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+oxidative+damage+in+the+pathogenesis+and+progression+of+alzheimer's+disease+and+vascular+dementia.">The role of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis and progression of alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.</a> Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2015, 504678 (2015).</li><li>Wang, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lupeol+alleviates+cerebral+ischemia-reperfusion+injury+in+correlation+with+modulation+of+PI3K/Akt+pathway.">Lupeol alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in correlation with modulation of PI3K/Akt pathway.</a> Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 16 (8), 1381-1390 (2020).</li><li>Li, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuroprotective+effect+of+phosphocreatine+on+oxidative+stress+and+mitochondrial+dysfunction+induced+apoptosis+in+vitro+and+in+vivo:+Involvement+of+dual+PI3K/Akt+and+Nrf2/HO-1+pathways.">Neuroprotective effect of phosphocreatine on oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo: Involvement of dual PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.</a> Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 120, 228-238 (2018).</li><li>Mu&#241;oz-S&#225;nchez, J., Ch&#225;nez-C&#225;rdenas, M. 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There is still a lack of ideal drugs for the treatment of cerebral ischemia in modern clinical practice2. Under the guidance of supplementing qi and activating the blood circulation method, Ast, Eri, and other preparations have been used in combination in the clinical practice of TCM and have achieved good comprehensive advantages13,14,15. A large number of studies have shown that Ast can improve the perm...

Chronic cerebral ischemia, caused by cerebral hypoperfusion, is a common disease in middle-aged and elderly people1. As a long-term occult ischemia disease, it can lead to progressive or persistent neurological dysfunction. The main pathological mechanisms include cell apoptosis and oxidative damage, leading to progressive or persistent neurological dysfunction; this is the pathological basis of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and other diseases, and seriously affects the quality of life of patients. However, there is still a lack of ideal drugs in modern medicine to treat chronic cerebral ischemia2. At the same time, the combination of Astragalus mongholicus (Ast) and Erigeron breviscapus (Eri) has been widely used in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)4. The combination strategy has remarkably improved in promoting the recovery of nerve function after cerebral ischemia, which is better than that of a single drug; however, there are large differences in the dosage ratio in the combination of the two drugs4. The effective components and mechanism of action are not well defined, which is the key issue restricting its clinical application.
Previous studies have demonstrated the synergistic effect of the preparation combination of Ast injection and Eri injection in treating cerebral ischemia in rats. It can upregulate the expression of p-Akt protein and downregulate the expression of Bcl-2 associated death promoter (BAD) protein5,6, which is one of the B-lymphoblastoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins and has the effect of promoting apoptosis. However, the material basis and mechanism of its synergistic effect are not clear. Further, the injury model of PC12 cells was established with CoCl2 combined glucose-free medium, and the optimal component combination in Ast and Eri has been screened and defined7.
In this study, the effective doses of Ast and Eri are screened by using the injured PC12 cell model. The optimal combination of the two drugs is screened using this model combined with the homogeneous design method. The cell model is used to further evaluate the difference in the effects and mechanisms of the preparation combination and the component combination in injured PC12 cells. This strategy aims to explore the protective effect and regulatory mechanism of the two types of combinations on injured PC12 cells through the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signal pathway to determine the best combination mode. This study provides a reference for optimizing the best application mode of TCM.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1300 series class II biosafety cabinet</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Instruments Company</td>
			<td>1374</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide</td>
			<td>Guangzhou saiguo biotech Company</td>
			<td>1334GR001</td>
			<td>MTT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ACEA NovoExpress&#160;1.4.0</td>
			<td>ACEA Biosciences, Inc</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Akt</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>10176-2-AP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Analytical flow cytometry</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Instruments Company</td>
			<td>62-2-1810-1027-0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>C1062L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Astragalus injection</td>
			<td>Heilongjiang Zhenbao Island Pharmaceutical Company</td>
			<td>A03190612144</td>
			<td>Ast injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Astragaloside A</td>
			<td>Chongqing Gao Ren Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>84687-43-4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bax</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>60267-1-Ig</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BCA protein quantification kit</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>P0012</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bcl-2</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>26593-1-AP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Carbon dioxide incubators</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Instruments Company</td>
			<td>0816-2014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Caspase-3</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>19677-1-AP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chlorogenic acid</td>
			<td>Chongqing Gao Ren Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>327-97-9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cobalt chloride hexahydrate</td>
			<td>Merck Biotechnology, Inc.</td>
			<td>7791-13-1</td>
			<td>CoCl2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethyl sulfoxide</td>
			<td>Guangzhou saiguo biotech Company</td>
			<td>2020112701</td>
			<td>DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kolon Chemical Company</td>
			<td>2020090101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM high sugar medium</td>
			<td>Thermo scientific Hyclone</td>
			<td>2110050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM sugar free medium</td>
			<td>Beijing Solarbio life sciences Company</td>
			<td>2029548</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ECL luminous fluid</td>
			<td>Lianshuo Biological Company</td>
			<td>WBKLS0500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electronic balance</td>
			<td>Haozhuang Hengping Scientific Instrument Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China</td>
			<td>FA1204</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electrophoresis instrument</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad Laboratories (Shanghai) Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>1658026</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Erigeron breviscapus capsule</td>
			<td>Yunnan Biogu Pharmaceutical Company</td>
			<td>Z53021671</td>
			<td>Eri capsule</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Four Seasons Institute of Biological Engineering</td>
			<td>20210402</td>
			<td>FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent microscope</td>
			<td>Olympms Corporation</td>
			<td>IX71-F32PH</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gel imager</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad Laboratories (Shanghai) Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>1708265</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-mouse secondary antibody</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>SA00001-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-rabbit secondary antibody</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>SA00001- 2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0</td>
			<td>International Business Machines Corporation, USA</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ 1.8.0</td>
			<td>National Institutes of Health, USA</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>imaging software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Immunol&#160;fluorescence&#160;staining kit</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>P0196</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kolon Chemical Company</td>
			<td>2021070901</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Marker</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific Instruments Company</td>
			<td>26616</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microplate reader</td>
			<td>Perkin Elmer Corporate Management (Shanghai) Co.</td>
			<td>HH35L2018296</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Motic Inverted microscope</td>
			<td>Nanda Scientific Instruments Co.</td>
			<td>AE2000LED</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kolon Chemical Company</td>
			<td>2014081301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nonfat milk</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>P0216</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nrf2</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>16396-1-AP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>P-Akt</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>66444-1-Ig</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PC12 cells</td>
			<td>Chinese Academy of Sciences</td>
			<td>CBP60430</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin solution</td>
			<td>Thermo scientific Hyclone</td>
			<td>SV30010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphatase protease inhibitor mixture</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>P1045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium dihydrogen phosphate</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kolon Chemical Company</td>
			<td>2015082901</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reactive oxygen species assay kit</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>S0033S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RI-PA lysis solution</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>P0013B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scutellarin</td>
			<td>Chongqing Gao Ren Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>27740-01-8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SDS-PAGE sample loading buffer, 5x</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology Company</td>
			<td>P0015L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile filter tips (0.22 &#181;m)</td>
			<td>Merck Biotechnology, Inc.</td>
			<td>SLGP033RB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris-base</td>
			<td>Guangzhou saiguo biotech Company</td>
			<td>1115GR500&#160;</td>
			<td>TBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin</td>
			<td>Thermo scientific Hyclone</td>
			<td>J190013</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween-20</td>
			<td>Chengdu Kolon Chemical Company</td>
			<td>2021051301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vortex oscillator</td>
			<td>OHAUS International Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China</td>
			<td>VXMNAL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#946;-actin</td>
			<td>Wuhan Three Eagles Proteintech Group, Inc</td>
			<td>66009-1-Ig</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

exploring the two herb combination strategy to treat injured pc12 cells

In view of the advantages of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of cerebral ischemia, we studied the differences in the efficacy and mechanism between the preparation combination and the component combination in order to explore the two herb combination strategy to treat injured PC12 cells. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) combined with a glucose-free medium was employed to induce oxidative damage of PC12 cells. Then, the optimal combination of Astragalus mongholicus (Ast) and Erigeron breviscapus (Eri) injection was selected and combined following uniform design methods after screening their safe and effective concentration on PC12 cells. Further, the component combination screened comprises 10 &#181;M astragaloside A, 40 &#181;M scutellarin, and 75 &#181;M chlorogenic acid in two herbs. Then, MTT, Annexin V-FITC/PI, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis were used to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of the preparation combination and the component combination on injured PC12 cells. The results showed that the optimal preparation combination for cell pro-survival was Ast injection and Eri capsule with a concentration of 6:1.8 (&#181;M). The component combination (10 &#181;M astragaloside A, 40 &#181;M scutellarin, and 75 &#181;M chlorogenic acid) was more effective than the preparation combination. Both combinations remarkably reduced apoptotic rate, the fluorescence intensity of caspase-3, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level; meanwhile, they upregulated the expression levels of p-Akt/Akt, Bcl-2/Bax, and Nrf2. These effects were more evident in the component combination. In conclusion, both combinations can inhibit the injury induced by CoCl2 combined with a glucose-free medium on PC12 cells, thus promoting cell survival. However, the efficiency of the component combination over the preparation combination may be due to its stronger regulation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway related to oxidative stress and apoptosis.

The screening of the optimal combination of Ast injection and Eri capsule is shown in Figure 1.&#160;The cell survival rate of Ast injection and Eri capsule on the normal PC12 cells is shown in Figure 1A. The cell viability was lower than 95% with Ast injection at concentrations greater than 12 &#181;M (Figure 1A) and Eri capsule at concentrations greater than 5 &#181;M (Figure 1A), indicating that the ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Exploring the Two Herb Combination Strategy to Treat Injured PC12 Cells at JoVE.com

Exploring the Two Herb Combination Strategy to Treat Injured PC12 Cells

This protocol provides a combination strategy of two herbs to treat injured PC12 cells. The protocol provides a reference for optimizing the best application mode of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

In view of the advantages of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of cerebral ischemia, we studied the differences in ...

The protocol in this study provides a combination strategy of two herbs for treating hypoxia-damaged PC12 cells, and a reference for optimizing the best combination mode of herbs. This technique can provide a simple, reliable, and efficient in vitro experimental method for screening the effective ingredient combination from herbs, against hypoxial cells. This strategy can also be applied to screen the component combinations against hypoxial cells from other herb preparation combinations, and illustrate their protective mechanism.To begin, sub-culture the PC12 cells every two to three days at 37 degrees Celsius in an incubator supplemented with 5%carbon dioxide to get a passage of 4 to 8 for all subsequent experiments. Treat 70 to 80%confluent PC12 cells with one milliliter of 0.25%trypsin, and observe the cells under a microscope for cell detachment. Then stop the trypsin digestion by adding three milliliters of the complete medium.Spin down the transferred cells in a 15-milliliter centrifuge tube at 840 x g for five minutes. After discarding the supernatant, resuspend the cell pellet with the complete medium and transfer the cell suspension to a 1.5-milliliter microcentrifuge tube. To count the cells, start the flow cytometry software and select the corresponding dilution multiple of the cell solution in the counting setting.Click on Density Chart after loading the cell sample. Circle the cell population away from the x-axis and y-axis. Right-click the data table below the figure, and select X, Y, Count, and Abs.Count to get the cell counting results under the data table of Abs.Count. After adjusting the cell concentration approximately to 1 times 10 to the 5th cells per milliliter with the complete medium, add 100 microliters of the cell suspension per well to a 96-well plate and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius and 5%carbon dioxide for 24 hours. The next day, to the supernatant-discarded plate add 120 microliters of one milligram per milliliter MTT solution in each well, and incubate for four hours at 37 degrees Celsius.After incubation, once the supernatant is discarded, add 150 microliters of DMSO to each well. Keep the plate under shaking in a vortex oscillator for 10 minutes at a speed of 240 times per minute. Then measure the absorbance at 490 nanometers in a microplate reader.To screen the optimal combination of drugs by homogenous design method, culture the cells as demonstrated earlier and treat the injured PC12 cells with six different proportion concentrations of Astragalus injection and breviscapus capsule. To evaluate the protective effect of two optimal combinations, treat the injured PC12 cells with the two types of combination of drugs. Incubate the cells for 24 hours and calculate the cell viability as demonstrated earlier.Seed the PC12 cells in a 12-well plate and incubate at 37 degree Celsius for 24 hours. Following drug treatment, treat the cells with 250 microliters of trypsin per well and centrifuge the cells at 840 x g for five minutes at room temperature. Then resuspend the cell pellet with 500 microliters of the binding buffer.Add 5 microliters of Annexin V-FITC, 10 microliters of propidium iodide in triplicates for each group, and incubate the cells in the dark for 15 minutes at room temperature to check for apoptosis using flow cytometry. In the flow cytometer software, click Automatic Compensation in the Start menu, select FITC, PE, PerCP, and APC in the Select channel, and select Compensation at Height. Then click OK in the Statistical Item:Median.Click Density Map and circle the effective cell population with the cell counting method demonstrated earlier. With FITC fluorescence as the x-axis parameter and other fluorescence as the y-axis parameter, create a density map. Click on Compensation Matrix in the Start menu and Coefficient in the overflow matrix.Seed the PC12 cells to the coverslips placed on a 24-well plate well in triplicates, and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. Following drug treatment, rinse the coverslips twice with PBS for five minutes each, fix them with 4%paraformaldehyde for 15 minutes, and permeabilize with 0.5%Triton X-100 for 20 minutes at room temperature. After rinsing the cells, block them with 10%goat serum for one hour at room temperature.Add 200 microliters of diluted primary antibody caspase-3 to each coverslip and incubate overnight at 4 degrees Celsius. The following day, wash three times with TBST buffer for three minutes each, and incubate with 200 microliters of secondary antibody for one hour at room temperature in the dark. After incubation, incubate the coverslips with 300 microliters of 0.5 micrograms per milliliter of DAPI for 10 minutes, and wash the cells three times with TBST for five minutes each.Capture the coverslip images under a fluorescence microscope and statistically analyze the fluorescence intensity with the imaging software. Wash the drug-treated PC12 cell coverslip three times with PBS for three minutes each and incubate with 400 microliters of 10 micromolar dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate at 37 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Wash the cells again with serum-free DMEM twice for three minutes each.Add the fluorescence quenching agent and immediately capture the coverslip images under a fluorescence microscope to calculate the relative fluorescence intensity with the imaging software. Wash the drug-treated PC12 cells in a 6-well plate three times with PBS for five minutes each, and incubate on ice for 30 minutes in the prepared lysis buffer of 100 microliters per well. Following lysis, centrifuge the cells at 16, 000 x g for 20 minutes at 4 degrees Celsius to collect the supernatant.After detecting the protein concentration by Bradford assay, run a 12%SDS-PAGE electrophoresis with 25 micrograms of protein in each lane and transfer the gel to the PVDF membrane. Block the membranes with 5%nonfat milk for 1.5 hours at room temperature, and incubate with five milliliters of the corresponding primary antibodies for 24 hours at 4 degrees Celsius. After incubation and washing the membrane with TBST three times for 10 minutes each, incubate with five milliliters of secondary HRP-conjugated antibodies at room temperature for two hours.Finally, to the TBST-washed membrane, add chemiluminescent HRP substrate for protein band detection as per the manufacturer's instruction. Then capture the images using the chemiluminescence imaging system to quantify the gray values of the proteins, with beta-actin as an internal control. The cell viability on the normal PC12 cells was lower than 95%with Astragalus injection at concentrations greater than 12 micromolar, and greater than 5 micromolar for the breviscapus capsule.Astragalus injection could improve the survival rate of the injured PC12 cells in the concentration range of 6 to 12 micromolar, and breviscapus capsule at 2 to 5 micromolar. Whereas the drug combination at a ratio of 6 to 1.8 micromolar exhibited the highest cell viability. The cell viability of the two combinations on the injured PC12 cells was significantly promoted, and the component combination was superior to the preparation combination.The apoptosis rate showed that the percentages of early, late, and total apoptotic cells were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group. Compared with the model group, the percentages of apoptotic cells at each stage were significantly lower in the treatment group. The fluorescence intensity of caspase-3 was significantly lower in each treatment group compared with the model group, and was relatively lower in the component combination group.Relative expression of the genes Akt, Bcl-2, and Bax revealed that the component combination is superior to the preparation combination in promoting cell survival, which is related to the stronger anti-apoptosis effect. The component combination exhibited a better anti-oxidative damage effect than that of the preparation combination, and significantly higher expression of the Nrf2 protein. This method can be used to screen and evaluate the component combination with other potential pharmacological activities from the herb combination, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and more.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia

There are several lines of evidence supporting the role of de novo mutations as a mechanism for common disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia. First, the de novo mutation rate in humans is relatively high, so new mutations are generated at a high frequency in the population. However, de novo mutations have not been reported in most common diseases. Mutations in genes leading to severe diseases where there is a strong negative selection against the phenotype, such as lethality in embryonic stages or reduced reproductive fitness, will not be transmitted to multiple family members, and therefore will not be detected by linkage gene mapping or association studies. The observation of very high concordance in monozygotic twins and very low concordance in dizygotic twins also strongly supports the hypothesis that a significant fraction of cases may result from new mutations. Such is the case for diseases such as autism and schizophrenia. Second, despite reduced reproductive fitness1 and extremely variable environmental factors, the incidence of some diseases is maintained worldwide at a relatively high and constant rate. This is the case for autism and schizophrenia, with an incidence of approximately 1% worldwide. Mutational load can be thought of as a balance between selection for or against a deleterious mutation and its production by de novo mutation. Lower rates of reproduction constitute a negative selection factor that should reduce the number of mutant alleles in the population, ultimately leading to decreased disease prevalence. These selective pressures tend to be of different intensity in different environments. Nonetheless, these severe mental disorders have been maintained at a constant relatively high prevalence in the worldwide population across a wide range of cultures and countries despite a strong negative selection against them2. This is not what one would predict in diseases with reduced reproductive fitness, unless there was a high new mutation rate. Finally, the effects of paternal age: there is a significantly increased risk of the disease with increasing paternal age, which could result from the age related increase in paternal de novo mutations. This is the case for autism and schizophrenia3. The male-to-female ratio of mutation rate is estimated at about 4&#x2013;6:1, presumably due to a higher number of germ-cell divisions with age in males. Therefore, one would predict that de novo mutations would more frequently come from males, particularly older males4. A high rate of new mutations may in part explain why genetic studies have so far failed to identify many genes predisposing to complexes diseases genes, such as autism and schizophrenia, and why diseases have been identified for a mere 3% of genes in the human genome. Identification for de novo mutations as a cause of a disease requires a targeted molecular approach, which includes studying parents and affected subjects. The process for determining if the genetic basis of a disease may result in part from de novo mutations and the molecular approach to establish this link will be illustrated, using autism and schizophrenia as examples.

Molecular genetic strategy for finding de novo mutations causing common disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.

There are several lines of evidence supporting the role of de novo mutations as a mechanism for common disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia. First, ...

Isolation, Characterization and Comparative Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Derived from Permanent Teeth by Using Two Different Methods

Developing wisdom teeth are easy-accessible source of stem cells during the adulthood which could be obtained by routine orthodontic treatments. Human pulp-derived stem cells (hDPSCs) possess high proliferation potential with multi-lineage differentiation capacity compare to the ordinary source of adult stem cells1-8; therefore, hDPSCs could be the good candidates for autologous transplantation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Along with these benefits, possessing the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) features, such as immunolodulatory effect, make hDPSCs more valuable, even in the case of allograft transplantation6,9,10. Therefore, the primary step for using this source of stem cells is to select the best protocol for isolating hDPSCs from pulp tissue. In order to achieve this goal, it is crucial to investigate the effect of various isolation conditions on different cellular behaviors, such as their common surface markers &amp; also their differentiation capacity.
Thus, here we separate human pulp tissue from impacted third molar teeth, and then used both existing protocols based on literature, for isolating hDPSCs,11-13 i.e. enzymatic dissociation of pulp tissue (DPSC-ED) or outgrowth from tissue explants (DPSC-OG). In this regards, we tried to facilitate the isolation methods by using dental diamond disk. Then, these cells characterized in terms of stromal-associated Markers (CD73, CD90, CD105 &amp; CD44), hematopoietic/endothelial Markers (CD34, CD45 &amp; CD11b), perivascular marker, like CD146 and also STRO-1. Afterwards, these two protocols were compared based on the differentiation potency into odontoblasts by both quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) &amp; Alizarin Red Staining. QPCR were used for the assessment of the expression of the mineralization-related genes (alkaline phosphatase; ALP, matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein; MEPE &amp; dentin sialophosphoprotein; DSPP).14

The method described isolation and characterization of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) by using either enzymatic dissociation of pulp (DPSC-ED) or direct outgrowth of stem cells from pulp tissue explants (DPSC-OG). Then followed by in vitro comparative differentiation of both types of hDPSCs into odontoblasts.

Developing wisdom teeth are easy-accessible source of stem cells during the adulthood which could be obtained by routine orthodontic treatments. Human ...

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is difficult to treat and new approaches to resolve persistent pain are urgently needed. Anti-inflammatory cytokines are promising candidates for treating debilitating pain conditions due to their capacity to regulate aberrant neuro-immune interactions. However, physiologically they work in a network of various cytokines, and therefore their therapeutic effect may not be optimal when used as stand-alone drugs. To overcome this limitation, we developed a fusion protein of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL4 and IL10. Here, we describe the methods for production and quality control of IL4-10 recombinant fusion protein and we test the effectiveness of the IL4-10 fusion protein to resolve pain in a mouse model of persistent inflammatory pain.

In this paper we provide details for the methods of production and quality control of an IL4-10 recombinant fusion protein. We also show how to test the effectiveness of this protein to resolve pain in a mouse model of inflammatory pain.

Chronic pain is difficult to treat and new approaches to resolve persistent pain are urgently needed. Anti-inflammatory cytokines are promising candidates ...

Three-Dimensional Collagen Matrix Scaffold Implantation as a Liver Regeneration Strategy

Liver diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Excessive alcohol consumption, a high-fat diet, and hepatitis C virus infection promote fibrosis, cirrhosis, and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver transplantation is the clinically recommended procedure to improve and extend the life span of patients in advanced disease stages. However, only 10% of transplants are successful, with organ availability, presurgical and postsurgical procedures, and elevated costs directly correlated with that result. Extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds have emerged as an alternative for tissue restoration. Biocompatibility and graft acceptance are the main beneficial characteristics of those biomaterials. Although the capacity to restore the size and correct function of the liver has been evaluated in liver hepatectomy models, the use of scaffolds or some kind of support to replace the volume of the extirpated liver mass has not been assessed.
Partial hepatectomy was performed in a rat liver with the xenoimplantation of a collagen matrix scaffold (CMS) from a bovine condyle. Left liver lobe tissue was removed (approximately 40%), and an equal proportion of CMS was surgically implanted. Liver function tests were evaluated before and after the surgical procedure. After days 3, 14, and 21, the animals were euthanized, and macroscopic and histologic evaluations were performed. On days 3 and 14, adipose tissue was observed surrounding the CMS, with no clinical evidence of rejection or infection, as was vessel neoformation and CMS reabsorption at day 21. There was histologic evidence of an insignificant inflammation process and migration of adjacent cells to the CMS, observed with the hematoxylin and eosin (H&#38;E) and Masson&#39;s trichrome staining. The CMS was shown to perform well in liver tissue and could be a useful alternative for studying tissue regeneration and repair in chronic liver diseases.

Liver diseases are induced by many causes that promote fibrosis or cirrhosis. Transplantation is the only option for recovering health. However, given the scarcity of transplantable organs, alternatives must be explored. Our research proposes the implantation of collagen scaffolds in liver tissue from an animal model.

Liver diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Excessive alcohol consumption, a high-fat diet, and hepatitis C virus infection promote fibrosis, ...

Vessel-Sparing Microsurgical Longitudinal Intussusception Vasoepididymostomy to Treat Epididymal Obstructive Azoospermia

The epididymis is a common site of obstruction in obstructive azoospermia (OA). Vasoepididymostomy has become an important method for the treatment of epididymal OA since 2000. There are two challenges in classic microscopic vasoepididymostomy. First, anastomosis of the vas deferens and epididymis is performed with double-needle sutures. However, there is a lack of good-quality and cost-effective double-needle sutures in China, which leads to increased difficulty and poor success rates of anastomosis. Second, the separation of the vas deferens does not retain vasculature, although the vas deferens vasculature plays an important role in the blood supply to the vas deferens, epididymis, and testis. This affects the blood supply to the anastomotic area and epididymis.
Therefore, this team has made innovative improvements to address these problems. Good-quality, cost-effective, single-needle sutures, which are easy to purchase in China and other countries, were used in microsurgical longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy. This can optimize the operation procedure and shorten the operation time while ensuring the success rate of the anastomosis. The surgical method of preserving the vas deferens vessels was innovatively proposed because the etiology of epididymal OA is mostly inflammatory in China. The protection of the blood supply to the vas deferens and epididymis is maximized using microsurgical forceps to separate and protect the vasculature. Patency reached 81.7% in the postoperative follow-up, indicating a better surgical treatment effect.

The present protocol describes a vessel-sparing, longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy using readily available single-needle sutures in China, a safe and effective procedure, which may improve patients' patency and natural pregnancy rates.

The epididymis is a common site of obstruction in obstructive azoospermia (OA). Vasoepididymostomy has become an important method for the treatment of ...

Using a Combination of Indirect Calorimetry, Infrared Thermography, and Blood Glucose Levels to Measure Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Humans

In mammals, brown adipose tissue (BAT) is activated rapidly in response to cold in order to maintain body temperature. Although BAT has been studied greatly in small animals, it is difficult to measure the activity of BAT in humans. Therefore, little is known about the heat-generating capacity and physiological significance of BAT in humans, including the degree to which components of the diet can activate BAT. This is due to the limitations in the currently most used method to assess the activation of BAT-radiolabeled glucose (fluorodeoxyglucose or 18FDG) measured by positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (PET-CT).
This method is usually performed in fasted subjects, as feeding induces glucose uptake by the muscles, which can mask the glucose uptake into the BAT. This paper describes a detailed protocol for quantifying total-body human energy expenditure and substrate utilization from BAT thermogenesis by combining indirect calorimetry, infrared thermography, and blood glucose monitoring in carbohydrate-loaded adult males. To characterize the physiological significance of BAT, measures of the impact of BAT activity on human health are critical. We demonstrate a protocol to achieve this by combining carbohydrate loading and indirect calorimetry with measurements of supraclavicular changes in temperature. This novel approach will help to understand the physiology and pharmacology of BAT thermogenesis in humans.

Here, we present a protocol to quantify the physiological significance of the impact of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity on human metabolism. This is achieved by combining carbohydrate loading and indirect calorimetry with measurements of supraclavicular changes in temperature. This novel approach can help develop a pharmacological target for BAT thermogenesis in humans.

In mammals, brown adipose tissue (BAT) is activated rapidly in response to cold in order to maintain body temperature. Although BAT has been studied ...

Ultrasound Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Morphology

Measurement of Healthy and Injured Triceps Surae Morphology

Achilles tendon injuries occur throughout the lifespan and can negatively affect quality of life and overall health. Achilles tendinopathy is generally classified as an overuse injury associated with fusiform tendon thickening, neovascularization, and interstitial tendon degeneration. Current literature suggests these structural changes are associated with&#160;symptoms and lower physical activity levels, as well as&#160;symptoms and lower extremity function in the long term. Surgically and non-surgically managed Achilles tendon ruptures result in increased tendon cross-sectional area (CSA) and a lengthened Achilles tendon. Both structural outcomes have clinical implications, as larger CSA positively predicts function, whereas increased tendon lengthening predicts reduced function after Achilles tendon rupture. Given the relationship between structural changes associated with Achilles tendon injuries for both injury severity and injury recovery, it is critical to be able to quantify Achilles tendon structure reliably and accurately. Silbernagel&#39;s group has established a valid and reliable method for efficiently evaluating triceps surae muscle and tendon structure. In this protocol, B-mode musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging is used to measure triceps surae structure, including Achilles tendon thickness and CSA, soleus thickness, and the presence of additional findings (calcifications and bursitis). B-mode extended field-of-view is used to measure Achilles tendon length and gastrocnemius anatomical CSA. Finally, power Doppler is used to identify intratendinous neovascularization. Quantification of triceps surae structure allows for comparison between limbs as well as longitudinal changes in response to exercise and treatment for healthy individuals and those with Achilles tendon injuries. This protocol has been used in many research studies to date and proves valuable in understanding the relationship between tendon structure and injury development, severity, and recovery. As ultrasound devices are becoming more affordable and portable, this protocol proves promising as a clinical tool, given its quick and efficient methods.

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Complexities of Achilles Tendon Injuries &amp;#8212; Research and Future Directions

Ultrasound imaging is becoming more accessible in clinical and research settings, and a consistent protocol will be beneficial for comparison between studies and for clinical interpretations. This protocol for ultrasound evaluation is a valid and reliable method to evaluate Achilles tendon morphology in healthy, tendinopathic, and ruptured tendons.

Achilles tendon injuries occur throughout the lifespan and can negatively affect quality of life and overall health. Achilles tendinopathy is generally ...

Preparation for Ear Plaster Therapy to Treat Pregnancy Vomiting

Begin by preparing the ear plasters for ear plaster therapy. To do so, cut a medical adhesive tape into squares, each measuring 0.6 by 0.6 square centimeters. Then position one or two smooth cow herb seeds at the center of each tape square.Next, instruct the patient to assume a comfortable seated position. Examine the skin on the patient's ear to ensure that it is intact and free from any abnormalities before selecting the acupoints. To locate the potential acupoints, stabilize the ear oracle by pinching and lifting the ear helix backward and upward using the thumb and index finger of one hand, making sure the area is fully exposed.Then, using the sterile probe in the other hand, gently examine the patient's ear to identify sensitive pressure points near the six auricular points. The stomach or CO4, cardia or CO3, belly or AH8, shenmen or TF4, subcortex or AT4, and liver or CO12.

Managing Knee Osteoarthritis Using Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy

Clinical Effects of Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

The protocol presented here demonstrates the operation method of ultrasound-guided acupotomy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), including patient recruitment, preoperative preparation, manual operation, and postoperative care. The purpose of this protocol is to relieve pain and improve knee function in patients with KOA. A total of 60 patients with KOA admitted between June 2022 and June 2023 were treated with ultrasound-guided acupotomy. Pathological changes and knee function scores were compared before and after the treatment. After 1 week of treatment, the synovial thickness of the suprapatellar bursae was significantly lesser than before treatment (p &lt; 0.05), the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score (HSS) was significantly higher than before treatment (p &lt; 0.05), the Visual analogue scale (VAS) was significantly lower than those of the control group (p &lt; 0.05) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were significantly lower than those of the control group (p &lt; 0.05). Therefore, ultrasound-guided acupotomy for the treatment of KOA can reduce synovial thickness, relieve pain, improve knee joint function, and have a remarkable curative effect.

Author Spotlight: Minimally Invasive Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

This paper introduces the operation method of ultrasound-guided acupotomy for knee osteoarthritis, which can reduce synovial thickness and improve knee joint function. It has the advantages of precise target, low treatment risk, few complications, and high safety.

The protocol presented here demonstrates the operation method of ultrasound-guided acupotomy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), including patient recruitment, ...

Osteoporosis Management in Rats Through Lingnan Fire-Needle Therapy

Operation Procedure and Precautions of Lingnan Fire-Needle Therapy in Osteoporosis Model Rats

Compared to filiform needle therapy, fire-needle therapy has both the stimulation of needles and the warming effect of heat, making it have unexpected effects on some chronic diseases and incurable diseases. Osteoporosis (OP) has a high incidence in postmenopausal women and middle-aged and elderly men, and the treatment cycle is long. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Lingnan fire-needle therapy has shown potential in treating osteoporosis. However, there is still a long way to go before it can be widely used. This article focuses on the application of Lingnan fire-needle therapy in the intervention of OP in rats. It covers the selection of needle tools, acupuncture point selection, positioning of rats' bodies, and fixation methods. We also outline the steps and precautions to be taken during and after needling with fire needles. The experiment was done with three groups: a normal group, a model group, and a fire-needle group, each containing 10 rats. The rats in the fire-needle group were treated with fire-needle intervention for six sessions. After the intervention period, we collected femoral specimens and performed micro-CT scans. The results suggest that fire needling can enhance bone morphology and mineral density in OP rats. This information can serve as a methodological basis for conducting basic research on fire-needle therapy.

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Lingnan Fire-Needle Therapy in Osteoporosis Intervention

Here, we present a protocol for the application of Lingnan Fire-Needle therapy in the intervention of osteoporosis model rats.

Compared to filiform needle therapy, fire-needle therapy has both the stimulation of needles and the warming effect of heat, making it have unexpected ...